Chloramine Facts

• According to the World Health Organization, chloramine is a less effective disinfectant than chlorine and may not kill pathogens such as E. coli and certain viruses nearly as effectively.

• Not everyone who is impacted by chloramine will show symptoms right away, but after exposure for several months, symptoms may start to show.

• Chloramine is corrosive. Systems that use chloramine have reported problems with increased lead levels, corrosion of copper pipes, problems with rubber fittings, etc.

• The Champlain Water District is the only district in Vermont to use chloramine.

• Chloraminated water may pose a greater risk to infants, elders, dialysis patients, and people with suppressed immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS patients and those going through chemotherapy.

• In other states, safer methods of disinfection such as ultraviolet and micro-filtration are used, instead of chloramination.

• In other parts of the country, some systems that use chloramine do a “flush out” of their systems at least once a year to counter the build up of biofilm in the pipes. The CWD does not do such a flushing.

• Chloramine entering streams, ponds, or Lake Champlain from watering lawns, washing cars, runoff, water main breaks, hydrant flushing, etc., can kill or damage fish, amphibians, and marine invertebrates.

Articles about Chloramine

Scientific Studies about Chloramine

Chloramine Library

Link to Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation Water Supply Division Fact Sheet about Chloramine


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